The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-12-23

national governments should have no use Tor
the money would divide the tax among the
members Of the Federal Union with the
specific object of tightening tho tax on real
estate. The houses and farms of the whole
co-.ntry pay too large a proportion
of the total taxes. II ultimately re-
lier could be given in that direc-
tici it would, in my judgment, be
q wise and beneficeht policy. Some honest
but misguided friends of temperance have
urged that the government should not use
the money derived from the tax on whisky.
My reply is that the tax on whisky by the
Federal government, with its suppression Of
all illicit distillation and consequent en-
hancement of price, has been a powerful
agent in the temperance reform by putting
1t beyond the reach of so many. The amount
of whisky consumed in the United States per
capita today is not more than 40 per cent. Of
that consumed thirty years ago"
After q few moments silence Mr.. Blaine
added that in his Judgment the whisky tax
should be so modified as to permit all who use
pure alcohol in the arts or in mechanical
pursuits to have it free of tax. In all such
cases the tax could be remitted without dan
ger of fraud, just as now the tax on spirits
exported is RENTED.
Besides your general and sweeping oppo-
sition to the presidents recommendation
have you any further specific objectionf'
WOOL GROWERS MUST BE PROTECTED.
eyes" answered Mr. Blaine; 81 should
seriously object to the repeal of the duty on
wool. To repeal that would work great in
justice to many interests and would seriously
discourage what we should earnestly encour-
age-namely, the sheep culture among farm
ers throughout the Union. To break down
wool growing and be dependent ON foreign
countries for the blanket under which we
sleep and the coat that covers our backs is
not wise policy for tho national govern
ment to enforce
''Do you think If the presidents recommen-
dation were adopted it would increase our
export trader
Possibly in some few articles of peculiar
construction it might, but it would increase
our import trade ten fold as much in the
great staple fabrics, in wooden and cotton
goods, in iron, in steel, in all the thousand
and one shapes in which they are wrought,
How are we to export staple fabrics to the
markets of Europe unless we make them
cheaper than they do in Europe, and how are
we to manufacture them cheaper than they
do in Europe unless we get cheaper labor
than they have in Europer'
THE LABOR QUEsTIoN-Irs VITAL MPoR-
TANCE.
"Then you think that the question of labor
underlies the whole subject9n "Of course it
does,r replied Mr.. Blains. SIT is, in fact,
the entire question. Whenever we can force
carpenters, masons, ironworkers and mechan-
les in every department to work as cheaply
and live as poorly in the United States,
~. -,
can, of course, manufacture just as cheaply
as they do in England and France. But
am totally opposed to policy that would en-
tail such results To attempt it is sequiva-
lent to social and financial revolution,
one that would bring untold distress"
eyes, but might not the great farming
class be benefited by importing articles from
Europe instead of buying them at higher
prices at homer
''The moment answered Mr. Blaine, "you
begin to import freely from Europe you
drive our own workmen from mechanical
and manufacturing pursuits. In the same
proportion they become tillers Of the soil, in
creasing steadily the agricultural product
and decreasing steadily the large home de-
mand which is constantly charging as home
manufacturers enlarge. That, Of course,
works great injury to the farmer, Cutting
the market with his products and tending
constantly to lower prices"
WHAT WOULD BECOME OF THE FARMERS?
eyes, but the foreign demand for farm
products would be increased in like ratio,
would it not.'
Gwen suppose it WERE" said Mr.. Blaine,
show do you know the source from which it
will be supplied? The tendency in Russia
k1l nd in ha Ac;a %
land is toward large increase of the grain
supply, tho grain being raised by the cheap
est possible labor Manufacturing coun-
tries will buy their breadstuffs where they
can get them cheapest, and the enlarg-
ing of the homo market for the American
farmer being checked he would search
in vain for one of the same value.
His foreign sales are already checked by the
great competition abroad. There never was
q time when the increase of large home
market was so valuable to him. Tho best
proof is that the farmers are prosperous in
proportion to the nearnes OF manufacturing
centers, and a protective tariff tends to
spread manufactures. In Ohio and Indiana,
for example, though not classed as manufac-
turing states, the annual value of fabrics is
larger than the annual value of agricultural
products"
THE TARIFF OF 1916 AND IT'S RESULTS.
''But those holding tho presidents views"
remarked tho reporter, faro always quoting
the great prosperity of the country under the
tariff Of 1916"
'That tariff did not involve the one dc
structive point recommended by the prosi-
dent, namely, tho retaining of direct internal
taxes in order to abolish indirect taxes levied
ON foreign fabricJ But tho country had
peculiar advantages under it by tho Crimean
war involving England, Franco and Russia
and largely impairing their trade. All thcso
incidents, or accidents, if you choose, were
immensely stimulating to trade in the United
States, regardless Of the nature of our tariff.
But mark the end of this European expert
ence with tho tariff of 1916, which for Il time
gave an illusory and deceptive show of pros
perity. It's enactment was Immediately fol-
lowed by the Mexican war; then in 1S4S by
the great commissions OF Europe; then in 1S49
and succeeding years by the enormous gold
yield in California. Tho powers made peace
in 1856, and at the same time the output of
gold In California fell off. Immediately
the financial panic of 1857 came upon
tho country with disastrous force Though
n 1.